Durkan urges local people to support Fairtrade Fortnight

Mark Durkan.

Published:07:00Sunday 22 February 2015

SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has urged local people to throw their support behind Fairtrade Fortnight, which begins tomorrow (Monday 23 February).

Mr Durkan is urging people in Derry and throughout the North to consider buying or switching to Fairtrade products as the best way of ensuring farmers and producers in developing countries get a fair deal and fair price for their produce.

Speaking ahead of the fortnight getting under way Mr Durkan said: “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the year-on-year progress made by the Fairtrade Foundation.

“However, while there has been a significant increase in Fairtrade product sales there is also still a long way to go to make trade fair.

“Two billion people – a third of humanity – work hard to support themselves yet still struggle to survive on $2 or less a day.

“I would therefore urge people to consider buying Fairtrade – and in doing so, support millions of the world’s poorest farmers who find themselves still trapped in trade poverty.

Mr Durkan added: “People in Derry and throughout the North have always demonstrated a strong global conscience and solidarity with other people in developing countries.

“I therefore have no doubt they will do what they can to support Fairtrade – not just in the coming weeks, but for many years to come.”